“Painting will not tolerate this, it would be against the decorum of the art”
The participants base their argumentation on the example of the figure of the “Sacrifice of Isaac” which is said to have moved Gregory of Nyssa to tears.
One cannot receive redemption through saints as the story of Charles Martel and St. Giles suggests
Molanus criticises depicting the story of Charles Martel and St. Giles because it could give rise to a dangerous error, namely the idea that one could receive redemption through the intermediation of saints.
Paintings should not provoke carnal pleasures
Molanus argues that impudence in paintings should be avoided since it stimulates carnal desires instead of devotion.
Idols should not be used as inspiration for engravings
Molanus condemns images depicting idols and other heretic symbols.
The images of the saints are just poles
The Frenchman Matheo Carreras criticized the saint’s images, stating that those which are in the church “are nothing but sticks”.
“And now, because (painting) finds itself full of errors and abuses […]”
At the beginning of his treatise, Giovanni Andrea Gilio addresses his initial motives for dedicating himself to the subject of artists’ mistreatment of art.
The contemplation of images from antiquity can pull us away from our own sins
Molanus referes to the contemporary custom of the use of ancient images to contemplate one’s own behaviour and their value for keeping people away from sins.
Apocryphal stories about the Virgin Mary and Christ
Molanus disapproves of artworks depicting apocryphal stories of Jesus and the Virgin Mary.
The placement of St. Paul on the papal seal
Molanus argues that the placement of St. Paul on the Papal seal should not rise to quarrel and debate.
Altarpiece depicting the Three Godly Graces in the Egmond Abbey, Holland
Molanus affirms the antiquity of the use of Fides, Spes, and Charitas in painting and gives an example from a monastery in Holland.
A punishment for having destroyed a “humilladero” and a crucifix
Luis Rebollo and Juan Cigueba, two Moriscos, were ordered to pay for a new cross
On the ornament of painting – The liberty of the istoria
In contrast to poetic painting, in historical painting, there is almost no freedom.
A diabolical and profane image of the Holy Trinity depicted with three faces or heads
While analysing the painting of the Holy Trinity, Pacheco condemned the iconography of it in which a man with three faces or heads is represented, in the manner of Janus or Gerión (Father Martin de Roa), called it as a “diabolical fiction” (Molanus): this iconography made sane people scandalised, as well as the ignorant man commit mistakes.
Good Thief is painted on Jesus his right hand
Molanus argues that the good thief has to be placed at the right of Christ.
Images of the Virgin Mary and their importance to popular devotion
Molanus affirms that the prevalence of certain iconographies is because of their popularity among the common people and that, as long as they do not contain impious elements, there is nothing wrong with this.
Artists follow the traditions of depicting Christ, Mary, and Apostles either by studying other paintings or the authorities
Molanus argues that artists should follow the pictorial tradition set by other artists or study the written sources regarding the subject.
Defamatory playing cards from France
Playing cards coming from France, on which there were defamatory figurations of the pope and the church
Unapproved sources
In this part of the dialogue, the participants discuss inadmissible sources that the artist should not use, such as the Infantia Salvatoris or the Acts of Clement. They also instruct the artist not to follow the opinion of the masses, but that of scholars, authoritative and approved authors.
How to represent St. George
Following Molanus’s studies, Pacheco confirms that the saint can be depicted with his armour knight, with the sign of the Cross, the sword, and the spear. Also, in an allegorical representation, painting the saint as a maiden with a lamb, is also possible.
Images containing dangerous errors should be banned, such as those depicting the Pope as the Antichrist or the Whore of Babylon
Molanus reaffirms that in churches no image must be present that could lead to a dangerous error among the uneducated.
The Infant Christ should not be depicted naked
Molanus condemns the artistic practice of depicting the Infant Jesus naked.
Images of the pagan gods and worldly philosophers are of little use for Christians
Molanus assesses the usefulness to Christians of images and statues of pagan gods and ancient philosophers and concludes that only in a few cases they are of value.
The Crucifix is just a stick
It’s indicated that Juan Guadalid said that the Christians believe in “that” stick because was believed that they worshipped on the crosses that were on the roads, which were made of sticks.
How to depict the “presentation of the Christ-child in the temple”
Using one artwork made by Jeronimo Nadal and one painted by Mase Pedro Campaña as examples, Pacheco analysed how to represent the story about the presentation of the Christ-child in the temple.